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Dubai set to improve residential road network

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has received government approval to commence an AED1bn ($272.24m) project to improve the residential road network in the emirate.

The new project is a part of the RTA's plan to initiate the next phase of the major transport infrastructure venture and will focus on construction of roads in vital residential areas across Dubai.

The project involves the development of roads in 16 residential areas in the emirate over the next five years.

RTA chairman and executive director Mattar Al Tayer told Oxford Business Group (OBG), a global publishing, research and consultancy firm, that during the past six years, the state had allocated funds for transport infrastructure projects in order to improve connectivity between the emirate's primary transport centres and strengthen the road networks.

"The project involves the development of roads in 16 residential areas in the emirate over the next five years."

"While RTA's future plans still include major additions to Dubai's road network in terms of adding new creek crossings and developing major interchanges and road corridors, our priority is to provide roads within main residential areas," Al Tayer added.

In order to encourage people to use public transport system, RTA is taking up various initiatives such as the introduction of new services, providing incentives to users, better integration between modes and other policies.

"The RTA strategic plan has a clear objective, which is to increase its public transport share from 6% in 2006 to 20% in 2020 and 30% in 2030. So far, we have managed to achieve an 11% share in 2011," Al Tayer noted.

To achieve the goal, the authority is set to launch a number of new road projects that are expected to expand the public transport network while increasing capacity.